Iron type golf club

ABSTRACT

An iron type golf club head having a rear surface having upper and lower portions; the upper portion being defined by a blade type iron structure between a top ridge surface and the lower portion; and a lower peripheral weight on the lower portion of the rear surface forming a rear cavity between the bottom sole surface the said upper portion.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to golf clubs and, in particular,to iron type golf club heads having an improved weight distribution atthe rear club face surface. Iron type golf club heads have been designedwith a number of different weighting systems to improve the shot makingcharacteristics of golf clubs. Conventional irons typically are bladetypes or cavity back, peripheral weight irons. It is understood that theterm blade refers to any non-peripheral weighted, iron type club headhaving an area of generally uniform thickness in a heel to toe directionand having a progressively thicker structure in a top to bottomdirection. The blade type iron construction may be formed with a muscleback type bulge which is an area of more concentrated thickness,preferably behind the percussion area on the club face. Other blade irondesigns may have a generally flat surface, or be slightly curved, forexample, convex or concave, on the rear surface, or variations of thesame. The blade iron provides increased feel to a golfer becausevibration is evenly transmitted through the uniform thickness of theclub head, particularly when a golf ball is struck at or very near thecenter of percussion on the club face.

[0002] Blade types of iron configurations are preferred by professionalgolfers and other golfers with considerable skill levels because theseirons provide better feel when a golf ball is struck squarely on thecenter of percussion. A well known drawback of these type golf clubs isa loss of feel and shot making performance when the golf ball is struckoff the exact center of percussion.

[0003] Because most golfers have limited ability, cavity back,peripheral weighted iron designs have been developed. These cavity back,peripheral weighted irons provide a greater moment of inertia to resisttwisting and turning of the club head when off-center hits occur duringa golf swing. This is accomplished by concentrating the mass of the clubhead away from the center toward the outer periphery of the club head.This peripheral weight forms a rear cavity on the rear face leaving athinner mass behind the area of percussion and locates the majority ofthe rear weight along the bottom, top, and heel and toe portions of thegolf club. This peripheral weight configuration produces a moreforgiving area of contact, or percussion, allowing less proficientgolfers to hit better golf shots to the intended target. Thedisadvantage of this club head design is reduced feel from the lack ofmass or weight concentration behind the center of percussion.

[0004] Thus blade irons produce more feel but are less forgiving, whileperimeter weighted irons produce greater forgiveness, but have lessfeel. Various attempts have been made to create an iron club head designthat provides the best features of both peripheral weight and bladedesigns. In my own U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,551, the rear of an iron golfclub is formed with an upper peripheral weight and cavity in combinationwith a flat blade or muscle back surface configuration at the lowerportion of the club head. Other examples of iron golf clubs with uniqueweight configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,395,113,5,046,733, 5,014,993, 5,011,151, 4,938,470, 4,932,658, 4,919,431,4,919,430, 4,915,386, 4,907,806 and 4,826,172 to A. J. Antonious,3,814,437 to Winquist, 5,290,032 to Fenton et al. and 5,595,552 toWright et al. In these patents, the club head designs combine peripheralweight with various supplemental weights on the rear surface of the clubhead to enhance weight distribution and shot making performance.

[0005] The iron type golf club heads of the present invention representan improvement of the known prior art. The present invention combinesthe best properties of the blade iron, which concentrates mass behindthe center of percussion and the cavity back iron, which places mass tothe outer edges. The present invention places mass to the outer edge ofthe lower area only, concentrating perimeter weight to the lower portionof the club head where the golf ball is hit virtually all the time. Thusthe club head design of the present invention provides structuralfeatures to maximize golf ball striking performance for both solid andoff-center hits. Therefore, a solid hit provides increased feel, ascompared to a conventional peripheral weighted cavity back iron, and,off-center hits provide increased forgiveness as compared to aconventional blade type iron golf club.

[0006] To accomplish the above, an iron type golf club head is providedwith a hosel, a club head body including a heel, toe, bottom sole, topridge, a ball striking face with a loft greater than 12 degrees, and aleading edge defined by the intersection of the ball striking face andthe bottom sole. Preferred embodiments further include a unique rearsurface configuration in the form of a weighting system having aperipheral weight and rear cavity formed thereby, which is located on alower portion of the rear surface of the club head, below the topportion of the rear surface and spaced from the top ridge of the clubhead. In preferred embodiments, this rear surface weight configurationextends upwardly from the bottom sole on the lower half to as much asthe lower two third portion of the rear surface toward the top ridge,the remaining upper portion having a blade type configuration. Theoverall height, width and depth of the rear peripheral weight may bevaried to accommodate golfers of all skill levels and to provide avariety of different ball flight characteristics.

[0007] The rear surface weight configuration of the golf club head ofthe present invention allows all caliber of golfers to improve theirshot making, by providing the forgiveness of a perimeter weighted, irontype, golf club, while producing the feel of a blade type golf club.Because golf balls are almost never hit on the club face at or towardthe top ridge portion of the club head, the present invention provides alowering of the peripheral weight found on most conventional golf clubs,to an area on the rear surface adjacent the place on the club face wheremost golf shots are hit. The peripheral weight on the rear surface ofthe club head is configured at or around a point on the rear surfacethat is opposite the center of percussion on the club face. Thus golfballs hit on the center of percussion have the benefit of increased massconfigured closer to the center of percussion, whereas golf ballsmis-hit toward the bottom of the club head and/or toward the toe or heelof the club head, have the benefit of increased moment of inertiabecause of the heel, toe and bottom peripheral weight configuration toreduce the effects of twisting the club head, keeping the golf ball in astraighter trajectory toward the intended target. The lowering of thecavity formed by the peripheral weight away from the upper portions ofthe rear surface of the club head toward the bottom, produces a clubhead which is more structurally sound therefore producing more solidfeel, no matter where impact occurs on the club face.

[0008] A primary object of the present invention is the provision of animproved iron type golf club head with a weighting system providing thesolid feel of a blade-type club head along with the forgiveness of aperipheral weighted club head.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved iron type golf club head that locates a rear cavity formed byperipheral weight directly behind the area of percussion on the clubface.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is the provision of animproved iron type golf club head that locates a predominance of weighton its rear surface opposite the area on the club face where most golfballs are struck.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is the provision ofan iron type golf club head having a weighting system that provides aperipheral weight on the lower portion of the rear surface of the clubhead.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is the provision of aniron type golf club head having a peripheral weighting cavity located upto two thirds of the distance between the bottom sole and top ridge onthe rear surface of the club head.

[0013] Still another object of the present invention is the provision ofan iron type golf club head wherein the size and location of the rearperipheral weight may be adjusted to create selected shot makingcharacteristics.

[0014] Still another object of the present invention is the provision ofan iron type golf club head wherein the mass on the rear of a club headis relocated closer to the area where ball impact normally occurs.

[0015] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and drawings, which setforth embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a golf club head inaccordance with the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the club head of FIG. 1.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the club head of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of a second embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of a third embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

[0024]FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of a forth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.

[0026]FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of a fifth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0027]FIG. 12 is a rear elevation view of a sixth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0028]FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view of a seventh embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 14 is a rear elevation view of a eighth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 15.

[0031]FIG. 16 is a rear elevation view of a ninth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0032]FIG. 17 is a rear elevation view of a tenth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 18 is a rear elevation view of an eleventh embodiment of agolf club head in accordance with the present invention.

[0034]FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view of a twelfth embodiment of a golfclub head in accordance with the present invention.

[0035]FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along lines 20-20 of FIG. 19.

[0036]FIG. 21 is a rear elevation view of a thirteenth embodiment of thegolf club head in accordance with the present invention.

[0037]FIG. 22 is a rear elevation view of a fourteenth embodiment of thegolf club head in accordance with the present invention.

[0038]FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken along lines 23-23 of FIG. 22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpretedas limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis forteaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

[0040]FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a first embodiment of an iron typegolf club head 100 made in accordance with the present invention. Theclub head 100 includes a hosel 102, and a club head body 104 including aheel 106, toe 108, bottom sole 110, top ridge 112 and a ball strikingface 114 with a loft greater than 12 degrees. A leading edge 116 isdefined by the intersection of the lower edge of the ball striking face114 and the forward most progression of the bottom sole 110. Thesefeatures are generally conventional in design. With most conventionaliron type golf clubs the ball striking pattern on the club face usuallyvaries with the caliber of golfer using the equipment.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, golfers with a high level of proficiency,such as professionals and low handicap amateurs typically will have aball striking pattern close to the center of percussion illustrated bythe area marked “A” on the drawing. Golfers with more moderate abilitytypically have a wider pattern identified by the letter “B” on thedrawing. Golfers of limited ability have a pattern identified by theletter “C” on the drawing. Therefore, golfers with an A pattern ideallyperform better with a golf club having better feel whereas golfers witha C pattern perform better with golf clubs which are more forgiving. Nomatter what type of golfer, mis-hits usually occur on the bottom part ofthe club head in a heel to toe direction. Thus the present inventioneliminates the cavity from the upper portions of the club head where itis not needed and relocates it to a point where mis-hits occur thusproviding a more efficient use of perimeter weighting of a golf clubhead to accommodate all golfers.

[0042] More particularly golf club heads for more accomplished golfersreduce the size of the rear cavity by bringing the upper and lowercavity walls into closer proximity to each other while leaving the toeand heel side walls unmoved. This reduction in cavity size reducesvibration diffusion from ball striking, providing a more solid feel,while the full heel to toe length of the cavity still providesforgiveness on mis-hits. Conversely, a larger cavity for lessaccomplished golfers provides even more forgiveness while maintainingthe perimeter weight only on the bottom of the club head.

[0043] The present invention is an iron type golf club head with aunique weighting system on the rear surface 118 of the club head 100.The rear surface is formed with an upper portion 120, a lower portion122 and an interface 123 defining the transition area between the upperportion 120 and the lower portion 122. The upper portion 120 of the rearsurface 118 is a blade type construction and is located just below thetop ridge 112, the lower portion 122 of the rear surface 118, isprogressively thicker from behind the center of percussion on the clubface extending downwardly to the bottom sole 110. The lower portion isformed with a rear peripheral weight 124 and cavity 126 formedtherefrom, which is located on and recessed into the rear surface 118below the upper portion 120. The peripheral weight 124 extends from theinterface 123 to the bottom sole 110. The cavity is formed with an upperside wall 130, bottom side wall 132 and toe side wall 134 and heel sidewall 136. In this embodiment the cavity upper side wall 130 iscoincident with the interface 123 defining the transition between theupper portion 120 and the lower portion 122. The peripheral weight 124and cavity 126 creates a section of the club head which is moreforgiving when golf balls are struck away from the center of percussionbecause of increased moment of inertia of the peripheral weight.Therefore, the lower portion 122 of the club head 100 provides moreforgiveness where mis-hits most often occur, while the blade typeconfiguration of the upper portion provides increased feel. Thus thepresent iron club head provides the benefits of both blade and perimeterweighted golf clubs in a single club head.

[0044] With the above described structure, a majority of the weight islocated on a lower part of the rear surface 118 of the club head 100.The peripheral weight 124 is located at approximately the lower twothirds of the rear surface 118 of the club head 100, however, it will beappreciated that the peripheral weight 124 may extend higher or lower inaccordance with the preselected characteristics of a golf club made withthe club head of the present invention, as described in variousembodiments of the invention.

[0045] The embodiments described herein below, are similar to theembodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1-4, including thefrontal portions of the club head illustrated in FIG. 2, and thesefeatures of the entire club head are incorporated herein by reference,with only the back portion of club heads shown and described hereinbelow for the purpose of clarity and focus on the invention.

[0046]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the presentinvention. An iron type club head 200 includes a rear surface 218including an upper portion 220 with a blade configuration below the topridge 212 of the club head 200. A lower portion 222 of the rear surface218 is formed with a thicker peripheral weight 224 and rear cavity 226.In this embodiment, the cavity 226 is smaller and or shallower than thefirst embodiment and it is located more directly behind the center ofpercussion on the ball striking face to accommodate golfers with higherskill levels.

[0047]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of a golf club head300 of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 318including an upper portion 320 with a blade configuration below the topridge 312 of the club head 300. A lower portion 322 of the rear surface318 is formed with a thicker peripheral weight 324 and rear cavity 326.In this embodiment the rear cavity is located totally within the lowerportion 322 and the interface 328 is a smooth, arcuate surface formingthe transition area between the upper portion 320 and the lower portion322.

[0048]FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a forth embodiment of a golf club head400 of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 418including an upper portion 420 with a blade configuration below the topridge 412 of the club head 400. A lower portion 422 of the rear surface418 is a generally muscle back type structure formed with a thickerperipheral weight 424 and rear cavity 426. In this embodiment theperipheral weight 424 extend outwardly from the rear surface 418. Theperipheral weight 424 and cavity extend at least two thirds of thedistance between the top ridge 412 and the bottom sole 410. The upperpart of the peripheral weight 424 includes a mass 428, which extendsoutwardly from the rear surface 418 at the interface 423 between theupper portion 420 and the lower portion 422 and includes a ledge 430which defines the upper edge of the peripheral weight 424. The cavity426 is generally oval in shape and has the same thickness as the upperportion 420.

[0049]FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a golf club head 500 ofthe present invention, which includes a rear surface 518 including anupper portion 520 with a blade configuration below the top ridge 512 ofthe club head 500. A lower portion 522 of the rear surface 518 is formedwith a thicker peripheral weight 524 located toward the toe and a rearcavity 526, located toward the heel 506 of the club head 500 toaccommodate golfers who tend to fade or slice the golf ball.

[0050]FIG. 12 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a golf club head 600 ofthe present invention, which includes a rear surface 618 including anupper portion 620 with a blade configuration below the top ridge 612 ofthe club head 600. A lower portion 622 of the rear surface 618 is formedwith a thicker peripheral weight 624 located toward the heel 606 and arear cavity 626, which is located toward the toe 608 of the club head toaccommodate golfers who tend to hook the a golf ball.

[0051]FIG. 13 illustrates a seventh embodiment of a golf club head 700of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 718 including anupper portion 720 with a blade configuration below the top ridge 712 ofthe club head 700. A lower portion 722 of the rear surface 718 is formedwith a thicker peripheral weight 724 and rear cavity 726. In thisembodiment, an extension 730 of the thicker peripheral weight 724 isformed into the rear cavity 726 adding additional weight within thecavity 726, closer to the center of percussion on the club face tofacilitate specific ball striking performance.

[0052]FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate an eighth embodiment of a golf clubhead 800 of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 818including an upper portion 820 with a blade configuration below the topridge 812 of the club head 800. A lower portion 822 of the rear surface818 is formed as a muscle back structure and includes a thickerperipheral weight 824 and rear cavity 826. In this embodiment, an insert830, made of elastomer or other vibration absorbing material, fills therear cavity 826 to absorb shock and vibration which occurs when a golfball is struck with the club head 800. Preferably the rear cavity 826 isformed with sides 832 which are undercut to facilitate retention of theinsert 830.

[0053]FIG. 16 illustrates a ninth embodiment of a golf club head 900 ofthe present invention, which includes a rear surface 918 including anupper portion 920 with a blade configuration below the top ridge 912 ofthe club head 900. A lower portion 922 of the rear surface 918 is formedwith a thicker peripheral weight 924 and rear cavity 926. An additionalweight member 930 is included within the cavity 926 to facilitatespecific ball striking performance. The weight member 930 may be made inany of a variety of shapes and configurations, including, but notlimited to, logo designs to identify the maker of the club head.

[0054]FIG. 17 illustrates a tenth embodiment of a golf club head 1000 ofthe present invention, which includes a rear surface 1018 including anupper portion 1020 with a blade configuration below the top ridge 1012of the club head 1000. A lower portion 1022 of the rear surface 1018 isformed with a thicker peripheral weight 1024 and rear cavity 1026. Thelower muscle back portion 1024 extends approximately half the distancebetween the top ridge 1012 and the bottom sole 1010 of the club head1000 such that the interface 1023 between the upper portion 1020 and thelower portion 1022 is located approximately midway between the top ridge1012 and the bottom sole 1010.

[0055]FIG. 18 illustrates an eleventh embodiment of a golf club head1100 of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 1118including an upper portion 1120 with a blade configuration below the topridge 1112 of the club head 1100. A lower portion 1122 of the rearsurface 1118 is formed with a thicker peripheral weight 1124 and rearcavity 1126. The lower portion 1122 and the upper edge 1130 of the rearcavity 1126 extends approximately two thirds of the distance to theinterface 1123 between the top ridge 1112 and the bottom sole 1110 ofthe club head 1100.

[0056]FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate a twelfth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1200 of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 1218including an upper portion 1220 with a blade structure below the topridge 1212 of the club head 1200. A lower portion 1222 of the rearsurface 1218 includes a thicker peripheral weight 1224 and a recessedrear cavity 1226. In this embodiment, the rear cavity 1226 extendsupwardly toward the top ridge 1212 past the interface 1223 and into theblade structure of the upper portion 1220.

[0057]FIG. 21 illustrates a thirteenth embodiment of a golf club head1300 of the present invention, which includes a rear surface 1318,including an upper portion 1320 with a blade structure below the topridge 1312 of the club head 1300. A lower portion 1322 of the rearsurface 1318 includes a thicker peripheral weight 1324 and a recessedrear cavity 1326. In this embodiment, the peripheral weight 1324 extendsupwardly toward the top ridge 1312 past a top edge 1325 of the rearcavity 1326 and onto the blade structure of the upper portion 1320forming an interface1323 above the cavity 1326.

[0058]FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate a fourteenth embodiment of a golf clubhead 1400 having a rear surface 1418, including an upper portion 1420with a blade structure below the top ridge 1412 of the club head 1400. Alower portion 1422 of the rear surface1418 includes a thicker peripheralweight 1424 and a rear cavity 1426. In this embodiment, the upper edges1427 and 1428 of the peripheral weight 1424 abruptly end and arecoincident with a top edge 1425 of the rear cavity 1426 and an interface1423 between the upper portion 1420 lower portion 1422. The upper edges1427 and 1428 are shown as a ledge or shelf structure but it will beappreciated these edge surfaces may be curved, arcuate or other similarshapes.

[0059] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, itwill be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention bysuch disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modificationsand alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following appended claims.

1. An iron type golf club head having a club head body and means forconnection to a shaft; said club head body including a heel, toe, frontsurface with a ball striking face and center of percussion locatedthereon, a top ridge surface and bottom sole surface; wherein theimprovement comprises: a rear surface having upper and lower portionsand an interface area therebetween; said upper portion being defined bya blade type iron structure between said top ridge surface and saidlower portion; and a lower peripheral weight on said lower portion ofsaid rear surface forming a rear cavity between said bottom sole surfaceand said upper portion.
 2. The club head of claim 1 wherein at least apart of said lower peripheral weight on said lower portion is defined ashaving greater thickness than said upper portion.
 3. The club head ofclaim 1 wherein at least a part of said upper portion is further definedby said blade type iron structure having a planar, flat surface.
 4. Theclub head of claim 1 wherein at least a part of said cavity on saidlower portion is further defined as having lesser thickness than saidupper portion.
 5. The club head of claim 1 wherein at least a part ofsaid cavity on said lower portion is further defined as having the samethickness as said upper portion.
 6. The club head of claim 2 whereinsaid peripheral weight of said lower portion of said rear surface isprogressively thicker toward said bottom sole.
 7. The club head of claim1 wherein said cavity in said lower portion extends upwardly at leasttwo-thirds of the distance toward said top ridge surface.
 8. The clubhead of claim 1 wherein said cavity in said lower portion extendsupwardly to a location approximately midway between said bottom solesurface and said top ridge surface.
 9. The club head of claim 1 whereina top edge of said rear cavity is coincident with said interface betweensaid upper portion and said lower portion.
 10. The club head of claim 1wherein said rear cavity is located below said interface toward saidbottom sole.
 11. The club head of claim 1 wherein at least a part ofsaid rear cavity is located above said interface toward said top ridge.12. The club head of claim 1 wherein said peripheral weight includes anupper mass in a heel to toe direction above said rear cavity adjacentsaid interface of said upper portion and said lower portion of said clubhead.
 13. The club head of claim 11 wherein said upper mass at saidinterface is further defined by a ledge on an upper surface thereof. 14.The club head of claim 1 further including a mass on said rear surfaceextending from a bottom part of said peripheral weight into said rearcavity.
 15. The club head of claim 1 further including an insertmaterial on said rear surface located within said cavity.
 16. The clubhead of claim 15 further including undercut retention means on rearcavity walls for retention of said insert material.
 17. The club head ofclaim 1 further including a weight on said rear surface located withinsaid cavity.
 18. The club head of claim 1 wherein said cavity is locatedon said lower portion of said rear surface toward said heel.
 19. Theclub head of claim 1 wherein said cavity is located on said lowerportion of said rear surface toward said toe.
 20. An iron type golf clubhead having a club head body and means for connection to a shaft; saidclub head body including a heel, toe, front surface with a ball strikingface and center of percussion located thereon, a top ridge surface andbottom sole surface; wherein the improvement comprises: a rear surfacehaving upper and lower portions and an interface area therebetween; saidupper portion being defined by a blade type iron structure between saidtop ridge surface and said lower portion; and a lower peripheral weighton said lower portion of said rear surface forming a rear cavity betweensaid bottom sole surface and said upper portion; said rear cavity beingformed by a lower surface, a bottom side wall, toe side wall, a heelside wall and an upper side wall.
 21. The club head of claim 20 whereinsaid rear cavity is located below said interface between said upperportion and said lower portion.
 22. The club head of claim 20 whereinsaid rear cavity is coincident with said interface between said upperportion and said lower portion.
 23. The club head of claim 20 whereinsaid upper side wall of said rear cavity is recessed inwardly from saidrear surface.
 24. The club head of claim 20 wherein at least one of theside walls of said rear cavity is located outwardly from said rearsurface.
 25. An iron type golf club head having a club head body andmeans for connection to a shaft; said club head body including a heel,toe, front surface with a ball striking face and center of percussionlocated thereon, a top ridge surface and bottom sole surface; whereinthe improvement comprises: a rear surface having upper and lowerportions; said upper portion being defined by a blade type ironstructure between said top ridge surface and said lower portion; saidlower portion defined by a lower peripheral weight formed thereon and arear cavity; a lower part of said cavity being located within saidperipheral weight and an upper part of said cavity being located withinsaid upper portion.
 26. The club head of claim 25 wherein said rearcavity is further defined as being recessed into said rear surface. 27.An iron type golf club head having a club head body and a means forconnection to a shaft; said club head body including a heel, toe, frontsurface with a ball striking face and center of percussion locatedthereon, a top ridge surface and bottom sole surface; wherein theimprovement comprises: a rear surface having upper and lower portions;said upper portion being defined by a blade type iron structure betweensaid top ridge surface and said lower portion; said lower portiondefined by a lower peripheral weight formed thereon and a rear cavity;an upper part of said peripheral weight extending above said rear cavityonto said upper portion.
 28. The club head of claim 27 wherein said rearcavity is further defined as being recessed into said rear surface. 29.The club head of claim 1 wherein said cavity is recessed into said rearsurface.
 30. The club head of claim 1 wherein said peripheral weightextends outwardly from said rear surface.
 31. The club head of claim 1wherein said peripheral weight terminates in upper edges coincident withsaid interface.
 32. The club head of claim 31 wherein said upper edgesform a ledge structure.